Atlantic Ocean – May 1, 1958

July 2, 2017

Atlantic Ocean – May 1, 1958

Douglas AD-4N Skyraider
Naval History And Heritage Command

On May 1, 1958, U.S. Navy Lieutenant(jg.) Willaim C. Cox, 25, of Wickford, Rhode Island, was piloting a Douglas AD-5 Skyraider on a training flight off Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. At 11:30 a.m. he reported that he had an emergency and was bailing out from an altitude of 2,000 feet. No position was given.

Two witnesses reported seeing the plane go down in Vineyard Sound about 8 miles west of Martha’s Vineyard, about half way between Noman’s Land and Cuttyhunk Islands, but did not see a parachute. A search was instituted, but neither Lt. Cox or his aircraft were recovered.

Source:

Cape Cod Standard Times, “Navy Plane, Body Found Off Vineyard”, July 10, 1958. This headline refers to a WWII navy Hellcat that was found in the waters off Martha’s Vineyard with the pilot’s remains still inside. The last part of the article mentions Lieutenant (jg.) Cox’s accident. The two incidents were not related.